Hand truck



Nov. 4, 1952 A. M. BARRETT ,6

HAND TRUCK Filed Nov. 17, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 i i f INVENTOR. Erika/"M 542M627, BY

A. M. BARRETT Nov. 4, 1952 HAND TRUCK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1949 I N VEN TOR. drflzarfif fiarfeZZf Patented Nov. 4, 1952 HAND TRUCK Arthur M. Barrett, Chicago, Ill., assignor. to Barrett-Cravens Company, Chicago, 111., a. corporation of'Illinois Application November 1'7, 1949, Serial No. 127,816

9 Claims.

My invention relates to the. class of material handling devices and, more specifically, is concerned with hand' trucks for picking up, transporting and depositing, containers, such asmetal drums which have a beaded riin, or chime ring or equivalent means, at the end to be engaged.

Hand trucks provided with means for gripping the beaded rims or chime rings of containers for picking'up and transporting the same are known, and I do not claim the same broadly.

My improvement is concerned with the type of truck in which the top of the drum is engaged and pulled toward the operator to initiate the raising of the drum. An example of this type of truck is disclosed in patent to Sabin, No, 1,513,863.

The general object of my invention is to simplify and reduce the cost of the truck as a whole, and a specific object is to simplify the construc tion and operation of the clampor clutch device which makes connection between the truck and therim of the container.

According; to my invention, I provide a frame consisting. of a, central post or lever witha base ofa width suitable to provide a two point support for the lower end of the barrel or drum, and to provide a mount for a pair of. spaced supporting wheels.

Uponthe central post or lever I mount, pref.- erably by-means of a pawl. andratchet adjustment, the. clutch. or. clamping device. The. clutch or clamping device has; a selfe-engaging pivoted hookiwhichhas an inclined. face for automatically raising the; hook. when it is presented to and pressed. against the rimof the container: to belifted. The hook ,thusrides over the. edge and adjusts itself to the height of the. rim to be engaged or. clamped. Alifting jaw isdisposed below the point of the hook, so that in operation the hook-willdrop into position back of the rim to the full extent. of its downward motion before the lower or lifting jaw engages under the-bead of, the; rim to raise the load. Thus, acertain degree of lost motion is provided so that the rim ofithe containerv must. first be engaged by the hook: and the container tilted toward the operator before the. lower jaw engages under the bead. Such: initial tilting raises the center of gravity of the container and at the same time, inclines the containertoward'the operator sufiiciently to gain the desired stable, three point support upon the truck before the wholeweight of thecontainer is transferred to. the truck by further swinging motion of the handle or lever toward the operator. The hook first engages the container, then angular motion of the. lever or handle about the axis; of the: wheels tiltsthe: container onitsadijacent. lower: edge and proceeds to take up the slack between the container rim and the lower jaw. By the time the lower jaw has engaged the rim, the container and the truck have been tilted into a position where the: angularity of the handle or lever gives the weight of the operator a: satisfactory leverage for applying the lifting force necessary'to actually'lift the container from the floor.

The novel organization of the clutch or clamping device may obviously be employed on any suitable frame andto any object to which it is applicable. However, the simplicity oftheclutch or clamping device is, in the preferred form of my invention, matched by the simplicity of the truck frame to provide an efficient, simple device which can be constructed at low cost.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using devices in accordance with theprinciples of my present invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a. preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa perspective view ofthe hand truck of my present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the clamp construction of my present invention with the front vertical plate member removed to show the mounting of the clamp jaws and the means betweenthe standard and the clamp construction for'vertically positioning the clamp construction;

Figure 3 is a partial, plan view of the clamp constructionv shown in Figure. 2, with the front vertical support plate in assembled position;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the hand truck of Figure 1, showing the manner in which the: truck is supported in a substantially erect position; and

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the hand truck of Figure 1, having a barrel in clamped position, showing the manner in which the truck is supported in a substantially horizontal position.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a hand truck, indicated generally by the reference numeral [0,, adapted for engaging, transporting and depositing variousv forms of containers as, for example, drums, barrels and the like. The hand truck iii comprises a tubular standard ll, preferably of square cross-section, which is rigidly secured, as by welding, at its. lower end to a transverse tubular frame member i2 of circular cross-section in the embodiment illustrated, centrally of the ends thereof. The transverse member I2 is supported by a pair of wheels l4 and I5 which are rotatably mounted thereon, in a conventional manner, at the opposite ends thereof. The upper end of the standard H is provided, in a suitable manner, with a handle l3 substantially of U-shaped configuration, the ends of which extend upwardly. The opposite ends of the handle bar 3 are adapted to be gripped by an operator for facilitating the maneuvering of the hand truck ID.

A rearwardly extending U-shaped tubular frame of circular cross-section, indicated generally at I6, is provided at the base of the truck for supporting the standard H in a horizontal position. The frame I3 is formed with a bight portion I? and a pair of legs i8 and I!) which extend divergently from either end thereof. The forward ends of the legs l8 and I9 are bent downward at substantially a right angle and are secured, as'by welding, to the transverse frame member l2 adjacent the ends thereof, inwardly of the wheels [4 and [5. A second transverse tubular frame member 20, of circular crosssection, spaced from the transverse frame member I2, is secured centrally of its ends to the standard H by means of a U-shaped bracket member 2!. The ends of the transverse frame member are one each secured, as by welding, to one each of the right angle bends in the intermediate portions of the legs l8 and N3 of the frame I6. In order to increase the rigidity of the frame 16, a tubular member 22 is secured, as by welding, at its one end to the central portion of the bight I! of frame i6, and at its other end to the transverse frame member l2 centrally of the ends thereof at the junction of the standard I I with the frame member l2. When the standard H is tilted rearwardly, the bight portion H of the frame It is adapted to engage the ground for supporting the standard I I, with or without a load, in a substantially horizontal position as is shown in Figure 5.

In order that the standard H may be supported in an erect position, a supporting frame structure, indicated generally at 23 is provided adjacent the lower forward portion of the standard H. The structure 23 comprises a pair of sleeve members 24 and 25 journaled on the transverse frame member ZB, one on each side of the standard ll. Secured, as by welding, at right angles to the sleeve members 24 and 25 are the ends of a pair of legs 26 and 21 respectively. Interconnecting the legs 26 and 21 and secured thereto in a suitable manner is a supporting plate member or saddle 26 in the shape of a cylindrical segment, in the particular embodiment illustrated, conformably formed to receive a barrel or like cylindrical container. It will be understood that the supporting plate member 23 may be of a shape other than that of a cylindrical segment so that containers other than those of cylindrical shape may be transported with the hand truck IU of my present invention. When it is desired to position the truck in an erect position, the standard H is tilted forwardly a short distance, causing the lower ends of legs 23 and 2'! to swing away from the transverse frame member [2 and to engage the ground, thus forming a substantially inverted Y-shaped frame, which is very stable. When the hand truck ID is in any position other than erect, the lower ends of legs 26 and 2! re t against the transverse frame member I2 and together with the plate member 28 form a support for the lower portion v the reference numeral 33, is adjustably and slidably mounted for vertical positioning on the standard II and is provided for gripping a container at the upper rim portion adjacent one side thereof. The clamp construction 30 is best shown in Figures 2 and 3, and comprises a housing including a pair of parallel spaced apart plate members 3| and 32, one disposed on each side of the standard II. The plate members 3| and 32 are maintained in spaced relation by means of a plurality of spacer sleeve members 33, four in number in the embodiment shown, which are held in assembled relation by means of a plurality of rivets 34. A pair of the sleeve members 33 are placed one on each side of the standard H, adjacent the upper portions of the plate members 3| and 32, and a pair of the members 33 are placed one on each side of the standard Ii adjacent the lower portions of the plate members 3! and 32, to keep the clamp construction 30 aligned with the standard H so as to allow it to be moved easily up and down the latter. A tubular roller 35 is journaled on one of the sleeve members 33 adjacent the lower portions of the plate members 3| and 32 for further guiding the clamp construction 30 and for an additional purpose to be described hereinafter.

Pawl and ratchet means are provided between the clamp construction 30 and the standard H. Such means comprises a plurality of ratchet teeth 36 formed along one vertical side of the standard I i. A bell crank 3! is pivotally mounted at 38 in a known manner, between the plate members 3| and 32 and the bell crank 3'! has teeth 39 formed on its one arm adjacent the end thereof, which teeth are adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth 36 on the standard I for maintaining the clamp construction 30 in one of a plurality of vertical positions. The teeth 39 of the bell crank 31 are biased into engagement with the teeth 36 of the standard H by means of a spring 40, one end of which engages the one arm of the bell crank 31 and the other end of which engages the sleeve member 33 adjacent the lower portion of the plate members 3| and 32. The spring 40 is suitably secured intermediate its ends, at 4 l to the plate member 3 i. A handle 42, having an annular finger guard flange 43, is mounted on the other arm of the bell crank 31 so that the bell crank may be rocked about its pivot 33 when it is desired to disengage the teeth 39 from teeth 36 for permitting the clamp construction 30 to be lowered on the standard II. It will be understood, that when raising the clamp construction 30 the bell crank 31 need not be manually manipulated as the teeth 39, by virtue of their shape, will slide over the teeth 36. When the upward movement is stopped, the teeth 39 are urged into engagement with the adjacent teeth 36 by the spring 40.

The clamp construction 30 further comprises a first jaw member pivotally mounted between the plate members 3| and 32 about a fixed axis 45. The jaw member 45 has formed adjacent its outer end an angularly, downwardly and inwardly directed arm portion 41, which arm portion 41 has a leading edge adapted to serve as a camming surface for causing the member 45 to rotate clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, when tie leading edge is urged into contact with the upper edge of a fixed object. The outer end of the arm portion 4? of jaw member 45 is adapted to-engage' the inner: surface of' the upper rim portionof a container. An extension-portion 51 is formed integrally with the jaw member 45." and is: provided so: that the operator may manually: retract the" arm portion 41' of f thejaw member 45 from engagement with: the inner surface of the upper rim-1 portion ofa container after the latter" has been deposited in the desired location.

A second jawmember 48 is pivotally mounted between the pl'atemembers 3| and 32' about" a bolt, spaced from axis 46, extending through the plate membersSl and 32, and held inassembled position by means of a nut 50. The jaw member 48 has a sharp edged end which is adapted to engage the lower edge ofthe-outer rim portion-of a container.

A spring 49 is mounted to the platemember 3i at 50. Oneend ofspring 49 engages' one end of the -jaw-member 45 and the other end engages the intermediate portion of jaw member 48 so asto cause rotationof the jaw members 45 a and 48 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed" in Figure 2. The aforedescribed'roller'35-acts as a stop for the one end'ofjaw member 48 to limit rotation thereof in a, counterclockwise direction.

The following is a" brief description of the manner, of using the hand. truckof. my, present invention:

The operator must first adjust. the olamp construction 39 so that the arm 41 of the jaw member 45'is located approximately at the height of the container to be picked up, with the edge of jaw member48 about one or two inches below the lower edge of the rim portion thereof. If

the clamp construction 30 must be raised, the construction need onlybe urged upward" the required amount. If the construction must be lowered, the handle 42 must bepulled' upward sogastodisengagethe teeth 35' and 39 onthe standard I I and crank arm 31- respectively. After the construction has been lowered to the desired height, the handle 42 need only be released, which permits the spring 40 to urge the teeth 39 into engagement with the adjacent teeth 36, thereby holding the construction against vertical move- 1 ment. The truck ID is then moved adjacent to the container while being maintained substantially erectly until the leading edge of arm 41 of jaw member 45 contacts and slides over the upper edge of the container into engagement with the inner surface of the upper rim of the container. The operator must then put his foot on the bight portion ll of the support frame It and while the frame I6 is thus held steady, he may pull the upper portion of the truck towards him until the member 48 engages the lower edge of the outer rim portion of the container. Upon further movement, the container is initially raised from the ground. After the hand truck has been tilted rearwardly an amount to raise the container from the ground, the truck may be pushed to the location where the container is to be deposited. At the desired location, the container is deposited by tilting the truck forwardly until the container contacts the ground, at which time the upper jaw member 45 may be retracted by urging upwardly the extension portion 5| thereof, thus releasing the container and permitting the truck to be removed.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, various rearrangements and modifica- 6 tions: may; be made therein: without. departing from the spirit and scope. of; my invention.

I'iclaimz' 1. In: a: truck, means: for; engaging thev uppe rim portion; of a container; adjacent: one side thereof, said means comprising, a. housing, a first jaw member pivotally mounted in said housing and. having an outer end: portion adapted, to engage the inner surface of the upperurimportion of said container, a second jaw member pivotally mounted in said housing and. adapted to engage thelower edge of the outer. rimportion of said' container and: said jaw membersbeing cooperatively related in a manner that; when said rim portion is=disposed therebetween, rear,- ward' tilting of the upper portion of thetruck causes said first jaw member" to eiTect' rearward tilting of the container, which tilting causes said second jaw member to engage the lower edge of the outer rim portion of the container: for, raising the latter from the ground.

' 2. In a hand truck having a frame, aaclamp construction carried on said frame for engaging the upper rim portion of' a container adjacent one side thereof, said clamp construction comprising, a housing, a first jaw member pivotally mounted in said housing about a: first axis, a second jaw member pivotally mounted inv said housing about a second axis spaced from said first axis, the outer end of said first jaw -meme berbeing formed with an angularly downwardly and-inwardly directed arm portion, the free end of saidarm portion being adapted toengage the inner surface of the upper rimportion ofsaid container, the free end of said second jaw mem her being adapted to engage the lower edge of the outer rimportion, and said jaw members being cooperatively related in a manner that when said rim portion is disposed therebetween, rearward'tiltingof the-upper portion of the truck causes said first jaw member to effect rearward tilting of thecontainer, which tilting causes said second jaw member to engage the lower edge of the outer rim portion of the container for raising the latter from the ground.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the leading edge of said arm portion of said first jaw member is directed angularly inwardly, thus serving as a camming surface for causing the first jaw member to rotate upwardly when the truck is maneuvered toward the container and the leading edge of said arm portion contacts the upper edge of the container, thereby causing said arm portion to slide over the upper edge and down into engagement with the inner surface of the upper rim portion of said container.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein means are provided for moving said clamp construction along said frame and for securing the same in one of a plurality of positions.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the frame has a plurality of ratchet teeth formed therealong, means carried by said housing adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth on said frame for maintaining said housing in a stationary position therealong.

6. In a hand truck, a standard, a first transverse member secured to said standard adjacent the lower portion thereof, wheels journaled on the ends of said first transverse member, a second transverse member secured to said standard in spaced relation from said first transverse member, a pair of sleeve members journaled on said second transverse member, one at each side of said standard, a pair of legs, one secured to each of 7 said sleeve members and projecting laterally therefrom, and the outer end of said legs being adapted to engage the ground for supporting said standard in a substantially erect position when said standard is tilted slightly forwardly.

7. In a hand truck, a standard, a ground engaging frame having a transverse member secured to said standard adjacent the lower portion thereof, said ground engaging frame projecting substantially laterally rearwardly from said standard for supporting said standard in a substantially horizontal position, a pair of sleeve members journaled on said transverse member one at each side of said standard, a pair of legs, one secured to each of said sleeve members and projecting laterally therefrom, and the outer ends of said legs being adapted to engage the ground for supporting said standard in a substantially erect position when said standard is tilted slightly forwardly.

8. In a hand truck, a standard, a clamp construction carried on said standard for engaging the upper rim portion of a container adjacent one side thereof, a ground engaging frame having a transverse member secured to said standard adjacent the lower portion thereof, said ground engaging frame projecting substantially rearwardly from said standard for supporting said standard in a substantially horizontal position, a

pair of sleeve members journaled on said transverse member, one at each side of said standard, a pair of legs one secured to each of said sleeve members and projecting laterally therefrom, a supporting plate carried between said legs against which the lower portion of a container is adapted to rest when the truck is tilted to lift said container, and the outer ends of said support members being adapted to engage the ground for supporting said standard in a substantially erect position when said standard is tilted slightly forwardly.

' 9. In a truck having a standard, means carried by and selectively movable along said standard for engaging the upper rim portion of a container adjacent one side thereof, said means comprising a housing, a first jaw member pivotally mounted in said housing and having an outer hooked end portion, a second jaw member pivotally mounted in said housing, said second jaw member having an outer'end which is disposed adjacent the side of the container spaced from the lower edge of the outer upper rim portion thereof when the outer end of said first jaw member is initially disposed in engagement with the inner surface of the upper rim of the container, said first jaw member after having been disposed in engagement with the inner surface of the upper rim of the container causing rearward tilting of the latter upon rearward tilting of the standard, which rearward tilting of the container causes the lower edge of the outer upper rim portion of the container to be moved into engagement with the outer end of said second jaw member, and said second jaw member effecting raising of the container from the ground upon further rearward tilting of the standard.

ARTHUR M. BARRETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

